Page 65 of Leo and His Love Bunny
Having a congregation looking up to me as their shepherd? Asking me for advice and calling me when they’re in the hospital, or when they need comfort after a loved one has died? Now that’s scary. I’d rather face the toughest offenders in the league any day over that. But, maybe that’s the direction I’m supposed to go.
It felt right when she said it, and I haven’t been able to get the thought out of my head since.
I guess the guys are right about a lot of things regarding my fear and Nora, and they’re just saying what I already know. Which is the best and worst kind of friends to have.
I have one hundred fifty push ups done, and tell myself I’m on the downhill side. Finally, if my legs are completely exhausted, at least my arms are holding out pretty well.
I’m not going down without a fight though.
“Fine, Pete. When you find someone, you let me know. Then I’ll make a move on Nora. But honestly, she agreed with mewhen we talked about it. We’re friends. She’s trying to get her career off the ground too.”
“Are you sure? Maybe she just agreed because that’s what you said.”
I forgot how much I hate it when Cal stops talking about anteaters.
“Aren’t you heading to Africa?” I ask, knowing that this is a topic that he can get passionate about.
“I’ve been in contact with someone from the foundation. I’ll be visiting your adopted anteater soon.”
“You better hurry up if you’re going to get it done before the season starts.”
“Maybe I’m going to retire too,” he says, and then he grins. “I’m not questioning what I’m supposed to do with my life. Anteaters need someone on their side.”
“Right.” My tone holds humor, even though my eyes are on the mat and I’m steadily counting up. I wish I were as sure about my life’s purpose as Cal is.
“You can’t marry anteaters,” Pete says.
“I wouldn’t marry a plural of anything,” Cal shoots back and I grunt a laugh.
“You know you can be pretty stubborn,” Pete says, and I know he’s right.
“So can you.” And that’s true too.
“I’m telling you, if I had a woman standing in front of me looking at me the way Nora looks at you, and if she was of Nora’s character and integrity, you wouldn’t be able to stop me from beating the doors down to get to her.”
“So you’re not talking about Shirtless Woman?” Cal teases.
Pete’s face gets red. He was brought up in a really conservative home, and I’m honestly not sure that he’s ever seen anyone out of their clothes before. Shirtless Woman from lastfall made an impression on him. Not the kind of impression that says ‘I want to marry her’.
“No. And you know I’m not. I want a woman who has decorum and modesty standards, doesn’t run around exposing herself to everyone, getting arrested and going to jail for it.”
I don’t know that I would say Shirtless Woman was proudly going to jail. She looked a little embarrassed, and she did try to tell Pete that it was an accident, at least from what I could see in all the videos that I saw on social media.
However, Pete is adamant that she was amoral and a danger to society.
I haven’t told him that I’m pretty sure she lives in our building.
“Just say you’ll try,” Cal says, and I can’t believe that he won’t let go of it. Actually, I can. I thought the anteaters were just a passing phase too, but he’s been on this kick for three years now. Longer maybe. And he certainly hasn’t let it go. If anything, he’s gotten more rabid about the whole thing.
“I’m already trying. We’re friends. We’re going places together. Later I’m taking my brothers hiking, and she’s going with me.”
“So ask her to be your girlfriend.”
“Do people do that anymore?” I say, not sure exactly how people decide they’re going to be together. There’s so much hooking up, that it’s almost a thing of the past to be exclusive.
“You don’t have to worry about what everyone else is doing. You do you. Do the right thing.”
“Oh what’s that?” I asked, saying two hundred sixty in my head. I feel like I’m catching my second wind. Maybe I’ll do three hundred fifty.
